Smith says coverage on third down ‘correctable’

[atljbo]

Smith says coverage on third down ‘correctable’

By GEORGE HENRY, Associated Press Writer 4 hours, 10 minutes ago

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP)—Safety Erik Coleman(notes) knew the Atlanta Falcons would grimace when they watched film Monday.

Turns out the Falcons’ pass rush and coverages were worse than he imagined.

“We were getting after them on first and second down, but on third down, I think it was just disappointing,” Coleman said. “I think everyone’s intentions are well. We’re covering guys, but we’ve just got to be aware of the different situations on the routes that they’re running.”

San Diego quarterback Phillip Rivers shredded the Falcons on four third-down plays early in the second quarter of Atlanta’s 27-24 preseason win Saturday.

The Chargers needed 13 yards, and Rivers hit Malcom Floyd(notes) for 18. Vincent Jackson(notes) made an acrobatic 32-yard catch on third-and-18. Rivers connected with Chris Chambers(notes) for 18 yards on third-and-17. Even worse was a third-and-24 that resulted in a 48-yard touchdown to running back Michael Bennett(notes).

As badly as starting cornerbacks Chris Houston(notes) and Brent Grimes(notes) looked in giving up long plays, coach Mike Smith(notes) blamed the entire defense for breakdowns against a Chargers offense that was without star playmakers LaDainian Tomlinson(notes) and Antonio Gates(notes).

“It’s not just the secondary,” Smith said. “It’s team defense. They’re all out there together on third down, and they have a job to do. Obviously, when it takes place in a passing play, the first thing people are going to assume is that it was something in the secondary. That’s not necessarily the case.”

Atlanta (2-1) plays its final exhibition Thursday night when Baltimore (3-0) visits the Georgia Dome. Smith said the staff has yet to decide if Houston and Grimes will take more snaps than usual for the fourth preseason game.

Most NFL teams either rest their starters entirely or use them only for a couple of series in the last preseason game, but the Falcons can’t afford to begin the regular season Sept. 13 against Miami with Houston and Grimes lacking a physical presence in coverage.

Both cornerbacks were negligent in jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage, and the defense paid for it when Rivers found his targets for big gains.

“We watched the film and we learned from it,” Grimes said of the secondary. “We just want to improve in the next preseason game and take it into the regular season.”

Atlanta’s pass rush would appear better off.

Defensive end John Abraham(notes), a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is coming off a single-season franchise record with 16.5 sacks. Jamaal Anderson(notes) and Chauncey Davis(notes) line up on the other side, and the interior appears set with fifth-year veteran Jonathan Babineaux(notes) and rookie Peria Jerry(notes).

The Falcons signed Babineaux, a three-technique tackle, to a five-year contract extension last November. Jerry was the 24th overall pick in the NFL draft.

Abraham agreed with Smith that the pass rush shared blame against San Diego.

“It’s all about being in the lanes and doing the right thing,” Abraham said. “There’s some stuff we’ve got to do a better job of in getting to the quarterback.”

Because it was only a preseason game, Smith and his staff aren’t terribly concerned. Atlanta last year ranked 13th in third-down efficiency and 17th in sacks per pass attempt.

Interception totals need to improve, however, after the Falcons ranked 28th in percentage of pass plays picked off last season.

“All correctable,” Smith said. “That’s the great thing. We spent the day on making those corrections and came out here working on a number of things we felt like we needed to do.”

Second-round pick William Moore(notes), a safety from Missouri, will not play or practice this week because of a tender left leg. After undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery earlier this month, Moore strained his hamstring on the same leg against the Chargers.

Third-round pick Chris Owens returned to the game despite spraining an ankle, but veteran Von Hutchins(notes), who was expected to compete for the left-side cornerback job when training camp began, is still brittle following a broken foot that sidelined him throughout 2008.

Second-year cornerback Chevis Jackson(notes) has played well in nickel and dime situations, but the Falcons haven’t given him too much work in man-to-man coverages.

“Just like the first two weeks in the preseason, there was some good, there was some good and there was some ugly,” Smith said. “There were some really good plays on first and second down. There were some really bad plays on third down, and that was kind of the story for the defense in the ballgame.”

NOTES: RB Jerious Norwood(notes) will not practice or play this week after injuring his left knee and suffering a head injury, as Smith called it, against the Chargers. Smith expects he will be ready in Week 1.

[Shredman]

so does this mean we are not going to sign any1 ......

[Dem Birds]

I know they can fix it. I hope they actually do.

[xfistfulofhatex]

this makes me feel a lot more confident in our defense

[Norwood all the way!]

i hope Houston and Grimes get more playing time against baltimore. i dont see them sitting on the bench as an option after their play against the chargers

[DUB]

of course its correctable......take Chris Houston off the field on 3rd downs........corrected. Getting burned out there once........twice.....but three times come on! Something has to tell you that you need to stick to a guy like glue cause they are passing at you.

[Clark Kent™]

Well ithink our CB's will look better regardless. I dont think Baltimore has many physical WR's on their roster.

[Futhermucker87]

It think we will still sign someone. I just don't think they want to give away who it is yet. And This also makes me feel better about our D. Playing them against the Ravens is a must to help them improve.

[Dragmar]

Coach Smith translation: "Until Dimitroff gets me some better players I gotta go with what I got."

[ltstorm2]

"but veteran Von Hutchins(notes), who was expected to compete for the left-side cornerback job when training camp began, is still brittle following a broken foot that sidelined him throughout 2008." Sucks to be an NFL player and be labled as brittle.

[De-cleater]

Of course it is correctable, I find it amazing that after one preseason game almost everyone changes their tune about the team they supposedly are fans of. Smith and Dimitroff have not suddenly become idiots, they obviously have players that they believe can do the job. There are alot of young players that will have to learn as the season progresses, we all knew that from the beginning. The preseason is the time to findout what the weaknesses are that need to be worked on so they can be corrected. I, for one, am not that worried about the defense. I know there will be some growing pains, and I'm willing to continue to support The Falcons defense while they grow into whatever it is they will become. All of you who have written them off after one stupid preseason game should be ashamed to call yourself a Falcon Fan.

[Caddieman]

Of course it is correctable, I find it amazing that after one preseason game almost everyone changes their tune about the team they supposedly are fans of. Smith and Dimitroff have not suddenly become idiots, they obviously have players that they believe can do the job. There are alot of young players that will have to learn as the season progresses, we all knew that from the beginning. The preseason is the time to findout what the weaknesses are that need to be worked on so they can be corrected. I, for one, am not that worried about the defense. I know there will be some growing pains, and I'm willing to continue to support The Falcons defense while they grow into whatever it is they will become. All of you who have written them off after one stupid preseason game should be ashamed to call yourself a Falcon Fan.

X 100 There are some really stupid people on these boards...........I mean really stupid.

[Rev_Hal]

This is what I was saying yesterday. There is a big difference between lack of talent and blown assignments. Blown assignments can be fixed.

[duhfalcuns]

wut do you be thinkin he gonna say?

dat it wuz all cuz duh talent be wac? come on man, yall can be thinkin it be all gravy but it aint

[Sun Tzu 7]

Both cornerbacks were negligent in jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage, and the defense paid for it when Rivers found his targets for big gains.

I'm not as sure this is correctable for Grimes when he goes up against bigger WRs....

The guy has heart.... but he just doesn't have the body to be a starting NFL corner.

We have Rudy playing corner...

[falconsd56]

what you mean he is not running around cutting people and freaking out............. oh we cant have a coach who is level headed and understand preseason games do not count.......... he needs to be fired asap

In all seriousness its nice to seem the acknowledging the errors and pin pointing them.

If the same things are happening week 10 when it counts, that is when its time to be concerned, but its not cool to get crazy over a preseason game.

[falconsd56]

I'm not as sure this is correctable for Grimes when he goes up against bigger WRs....

The guy has heart.... but he just doesn't have the body to be a starting NFL corner.

We have Rudy playing corner...

there are alot of corners around Grimes size that able to be physical.

[benny]

wut do you be thinkin he gonna say?

dat it wuz all cuz duh talent be wac? come on man, yall can be thinkin it be all gravy but it aint

no one loves you. not even your mother.

[falconsd56]

no one loves you. not even your mother.

:lol:

ouch

[Sun Tzu 7]

there are alot of corners around Grimes size that able to be physical.

Yes but we're talking about Grimes here.

Can someone remind me what plays this guy has made for everyone to be so high on him?

When we played the Cards, (2 times in the last 2 years), Grimes wasn't much of a factor.

Anyway based on what I saw it looks like we want to go with a more aggressive defense and that means putting the corners in a bunch of one on one situations.

Right now that doesn't seem like a great idea.

[sumslap]

of course its correctable......take Chris Houston off the field on 3rd downs........corrected. Getting burned out there once........twice.....but three times come on! Something has to tell you that you need to stick to a guy like glue cause they are passing at you.

yea take him off the field rigggght how about call a better play dont man blitz ever third and long try coverage plays and if you gone blitz do a zone blitz

[delaigle]

of course its correctable......take Chris Houston off the field on 3rd downs........corrected. Getting burned out there once........twice.....but three times come on! Something has to tell you that you need to stick to a guy like glue cause they are passing at you.

An another thought do not put them in 3rd and long let them have 3rd and short

[fabolous]

there are alot of corners around Grimes size that able to be physical.

Name me one corner thats 5'8 and starting in the NFL.

[FalconMama]

Yes but we're talking about Grimes here.

Can someone remind me what plays this guy has made for everyone to be so high on him?

When we played the Cards, (2 times in the last 2 years), Grimes wasn't much of a factor.

Anyway based on what I saw it looks like we want to go with a more aggressive defense and that means putting the corners in a bunch of one on one situations.

Right now that doesn't seem like a great idea.

This

[Peyton]

The next NFL coach who says "Wow we just can't stop anyone because our players just aren't good enough, and we can't fix it." will be the first.